EAL/ Young Interpreters

Mrs Sophie Curtis (EAL/ MFL Teacher) is responsible for teaching languages in school through various different activities and events throughout the year.

Young Interpreters

We have many bilingual children at St John’s, and KS2 bilingual children can choose to become a Young Interpreter. They receive training from Mrs Curtis, and then provide additional support for our EAL children and their families, with their English. The Young Interpreters are buddied up with KS1 EAL children, who they help with reading once a week.

Year 3 International Link with Arunside Primary School

Each Summer we have an International Morning with Year 3 classes from both schools, held at both sites. The EAL children lead activities for small groups, e.g. teaching numbers in their language, and the children learn songs and dances from different countries, to celebrate the wealth of languages and cultures we have in both schools.

International Link with St Wilfrid’s Catholic Secondary School, Crawley

We have a strong EAL link with St Wilfrid’s Catholic Secondary in Crawley. Their EAL students visit us each summer term to run a KS2 Languages Festival, so our children learn about the language and culture of other countries.

End of Year International Festival

At the end of each year we hold an International Festival to celebrate all our different cultures. In the morning we have food tasting, and in the afternoon there are performances of music and dance, from different countries.

International Storytelling Day

Each year we hold a Storytelling Day where the children hear a familiar story (e.g. The Gingerbread Man) told in different languages. The storytellers are EAL parents and children (Young Interpreters).

Fairtrade Fortnight

Every year during Fairtrade Fortnight, the Fairtrade Class Reps help Mrs Curtis to lead Assemblies, and organize a Fairtrade Bake Sale to fundraise for Fairtrade. Each class learns about Fairtrade through different activities. This highlights to children and parents the need to support Fairtrade by buying Fairtrade products.